Walker Morris strengthens offering with two senior appointments. 11th June 2026 Walker Morris has announced that it has bolstered its offering with the appointment of two new Directors: David Wood in Planning & Infrastructure Consents and Danny Fowler in Pensions, supporting continued growth across key practice areas. The dual appointments demonstrate the firm's ongoing investment in its people and its growth ambitions, enhancing its expertise across both real estate-led development and pensions advisory work. David Wood joins the Planning & Infrastructure Consents team from Hogan Lovells, where he spent more than 13 years advising on major development and infrastructure projects. His experience includes large-scale urban regeneration schemes, commercial and residential development, and nationally significant infrastructure projects, including development consent order (DCO) applications. Recognised by Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 for his technical expertise and commercial approach, David will further strengthen one of the largest and most experienced specialist planning teams in the region. He will support clients across the full lifecycle of development, from early-stage strategy and consenting through to delivery and contentious matters. Danny Fowler joins the Pensions team from Fieldfisher, bringing experience advising employers and trustees on complicated pensions matters. Before this, he spent eight years at PwC's Pensions Legal Practice, working on a broad range of high-profile and technically challenging issues, including scheme interpretation disputes, employer insolvencies, and global restructurings. Danny has advised a wide range of clients, including major corporate and public sector organisations, and is recognised for his strong technical expertise and client-focused approach. At Walker Morris, he will play a key role in supporting the continued growth of the firm's pensions practice and enhancing its client offering nationwide. Commenting on his appointment, David Wood said: "I am delighted to have joined Walker Morris's Planning & Infrastructure Consents team. The firm has a strong reputation for delivering high-quality, complex work and a genuinely collaborative culture. Having spent much of my career in London, it is particularly exciting to return to Leeds and join such a highly regarded team." Danny Fowler added: "Walker Morris presents a compelling proposition as a single-site firm delivering city-quality work outside of London. The opportunity to be based in Yorkshire while working on high-profile matters was a major draw for me. "I'm excited to join a strong and growing pensions team and to help build a differentiated experience for clients, providing London-quality advice in a competitive and flexible way. I am particularly looking forward to having a bigger impact on clients as the team continues to grow."

Simpson Thacher eyes sports deals in triple partner swoop from Hogan Lovells, Sidley and the NBA. Incoming trio are New York-based Michael Kuh and Matthew Carpenter-Dennis and LA-based Eric Geffner 07 April 2026 (l-r): Michael Kuh, Eric Geffner, Matthew Carpenter-Dennis Simpson Thacher & Bartlett Simpson Thacher & Bartlett is expanding its sports M&A practice with a trio of partner hires from Hogan Lovells, Sidley Austin and the National Basketball Association. The incoming threesome are Michael Kuh and Eric Geffner, who have joined as co-heads of the firm's sports group, while Matthew Carpenter-Dennis is due to join the team at a later date. Kuh and Carpenter-Dennis are based in New York, while Geffner is based in Los Angeles. The trio will advise on a range of sports-related deal matters. Advertisement Alden Millard, chair of Simpson Thacher's executive committee, said: "The sports landscape continues to evolve, and we are seeing significant momentum from our alternative asset manager clients who are expanding their investments into multi-club platforms, real estate and infrastructure assets, and adjacent experiential businesses. Mike, Eric and Matt are well known for their industry and business expertise spanning game-changing deals involving alternative asset managers." Kuh was previously a partner at Hogan Lovells for more than six years, where he was managing partner of the New York office. He previously spent 16 years at Latham & Watkins, where he was a counsel. His client list includes some of the world's biggest sporting organisations. Earlier this year, he was on the Hogan Lovells team that advised Sportsology Capital Partners on its minority investment in Major League Baseball team Texas Rangers. He also represented Canada, Mexico and the US on their successful bid to host this year's FIFA World Cup. Geffner spent just under four years at Sidley in its century city office, the majority of them as a partner. He had earlier spells as counsel at o'melveny & myers and as an associate at Latham & Watkins. He advises on M&A, co-investments and joint ventures in the sports, entertainment and media sectors. He also advises professional sports teams on sponsorship, licensing and stadium deals, among other matters. LAW OVER BORDERS COMPARATIVE GUIDES luxury Law guide this third edition provides answers and insight into how luxury businesses can protect their brands in a range of jurisdictions... | 1yr. Carpenter-Dennis, meanwhile, joins after more than a decade at the NBA, the past four years as assistant GC. He was previously an associate at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton. At the NBA, he oversaw team ownership transactions, capital structuring, arena financings and leasing, and other investment matters. Eric Swedenburg, global head of Simpson Thacher's M&A practice, said: "Sports has become an increasingly active frontier in M&A, and this team will provide clients with unparalleled insight into the commercial, operational and investment dynamics shaping the global sports industry, as well as seamless transactional execution. "Mike and Eric have quarterbacked several prominent and complex sports transactions from private practice, while Matt brings an insider edge honed through his years at the NBA, making them ideal additions to our preeminent global M&A team." Last October, former Mishcon de Reya lawyers Simon Leaf and Tom Murray launched a London-based boutique - Three Points Law - targeting sports, tech and commercial work.